Toledo Bend

From: Greg Crafts
Email: GCrafts@bigfoot.com
Date: 2/17/04
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Comments

The lake level is 171.97 ft msl, a two and a half foot rise since my last report from heavy rains. High pool is (172ft). Surface water temperatures are running in the mid 40s. The north end of the lake is stained with feeder creeks muddy from the run off. SRA is not generating but have opened the gates. Eight gates open one foot and three gates open two foot.

The cold muddy water along with high winds put the skids on fishing over the weekend. The BFL tournament held on the 14th was indicative of the "tuff" fishing conditions. Out 338 participants only eight limits were brought to the scales with 16 lbs winning the tournament. Fifty percent didn't weight a fish. With a little warm weather and when the lake settles down, the bite should pick up.

Black Bass: The Blacks are moving up with the rising water. A number of patterns and lures are working from spinner baits to Jigs and Carolina Rigged plastics. Traps and shallow diving crank baits also producing some fish.. Secondary points, creek ledges (points and bends), and shallow ditches and guts with cover are key areas to concentrate. Also work the flooded buck brush with jigs, tubes and soft plastics. Try to find the clearest water you can.

The Crappie have scattered from the river channel ledges and drops and the bite has been slow.

White Bass have moved into the river proper with reports of good catches as far north as FM 2517. Work the flooded sloughs with Road Runners, traps and shallow diving crank baits along with slab spoons and tail spinners.

For more information or to book a trip, please visit my website at www.toledo-bend.net/toledobend or give me a call at 936.368.7151.